Considered an essential part of the Atlantic Wall in anticipation of an
Allied invasion, the fortifications in Norway were primarily based
around coastal artillery, but also included
elements of anti-aircraft batteries, and
battle tanks
and infantry forces. There
were as many as 400,000 German troops in Norway during the
occupation, a large proportion dedicated to the defense of the
Northern flank of the Atlantic wall.

An extensive network of coast artillery batteries with heavy
(>15.5 cm), medium (12-15.5 cm) and light
(<12 cm) ordnance was set up around the entire coast. These
were typically placed so as to cover approaches to main population
centers and likely landing sites. The batteries were also
generously equipped with close combat weapons, such as machine guns
and small firearms. By the end of the war, there were 221 batteries
along the coast, under either Kriegsmarine or Heer command. There were also anti-aircraft
artillery (Marine Flak) batteries in Kristiansand, Bergen,
Trondheim, Bogen, and Harstad; these were armed with 88-mm pieces.
The tanks available for the German defence were Panzer IIIs (50 mm
L60 and 75 mm L24) and Sturmgeschütz IIIs (75 mm
L48).